Zhao Jianhua used the cultural wall project as an excuse to arrange two dinners with Xie Zhendong, bringing a different female companion to each.
However, Xie Zhendong remained unmoved, showing no interest in the beautiful women at the dinners.
Zhao Jianhua felt frustrated, realizing Xie Zhendong wasn't interested in that type of woman.
Unwilling to give up, he invited Xie Zhendong out a third time to discuss modifications to the cultural wall design, this time taking Xie Zhendong to a high-end club.
He brought Zhan Jiayi with him, a woman he liked and was most satisfied with, and was prepared to make a sacrifice.
While he discussed business with Xie Zhendong, Zhan Jiayi sat quietly beside them. She knew that when men were holding forth in such settings, women were merely flowers in a vase, meant to be pleasing to the eye.
Xie Zhendong had heard that Zhao Jianhua kept many women, which was why he hadn't been interested in the beautiful but unengaging women he'd brought before, women who could be easily manipulated.
But the woman Zhao Jianhua had brought tonight sat with remarkable composure. She didn't try to flaunt herself or deliberately curry favor with him.
This, in turn, made him look at her more than once. Zhan Jiayi also offered him a polite, faint smile.
His gaze lingered on her for a few seconds longer, inadvertently revealing his interest.
Zhao Jianhua saw this and was secretly delighted. It seemed Xie Zhendong wasn't averse to women, but rather discerning, requiring him to present his best.
...
Zhao Jianhua was in a good mood on the way back.
Zhan Jiayi leaned against him affectionately and asked, "That Mr. Xie wasn't satisfied with your revised design proposal, pointing out many flaws and asking your people to redo it. Why are you still so happy?"
Zhao Jianhua toyed with her hand and smiled at her, "I didn't come to see him tonight for this design proposal. It doesn't matter if he's not satisfied."
"Then what is it for?" Zhan Jiayi felt a hint of unease.
"Have you ever thought about having more, living a better life?" Zhao Jianhua suddenly asked.
Zhan Jiayi felt a chill creep up her spine. "What do you mean by that?"
"If I told you that Xie Zhendong took a liking to you tonight, would you want to be his woman?"
Zhan Jiayi flung his hand away and sat up straight. "What do you take me for!"
She suddenly understood. He had brought her out tonight intending to give her to another man.
Zhao Jianhua chuckled coldly, "I take you as a business partner. Aren't you with me for money? Now I've found a bigger benefactor for you. As long as you become his, it will be beneficial for both of us. Besides, seeing how you were exchanging glances tonight, don't you have any affection for the more powerful Xie Zhendong?"
Zhan Jiayi felt a mix of anger and resentment. She had been with Zhao Jianhua for quite some time, thinking he had at least some genuine feelings for her, but her hopes were dashed.
Back then, she had been pregnant with Shu Zhongze's child and was subsequently confined by him.
No matter how much she caused a scene in the place she was confined, Shu Zhongze never came to see her again.
The person in charge of looking after her only told her that Shu Zhongze had instructed them to send her and the child away after she gave birth safely.
She was extremely unwilling at the time, seeing how the child could become the heir of the Shu Corporation.
Unwilling to accept this, she tried to escape from her confinement. As a result, after much struggle, she miscarried at five months pregnant.
Lying in the hospital, filled with despair, Shu Zhongze sent someone to throw her a check, telling her not to pester him anymore.
After being discharged from the hospital, she tried to find Shu Zhongze, but she couldn't even get to see him.
When a man wants to avoid you, he won't appear before you even if he's just separated by a door.
It wasn't until she saw the news of Shu Zhongze's death and Gu Susu became the heir to the Shu Group that she finally woke up from her dream.
After recuperating for a while, she found a job and met Zhao Jianhua during a business meeting.
A vice president sitting next to her made advances towards her. Angrily, she splashed wine on him.
To her surprise, the vice president not only felt no embarrassment but also began to verbally abuse her.
At that moment, Zhao Jianhua, who was at the banquet, stood up, reprimanded the vice president, and defended her.
She thanked him and hurried away from the table. Walking alone on the street, she felt heartbroken, wondering why heaven was treating her this way and why Shu Zhongze, who had once professed his love for her, treated her like this.
As she walked aimlessly, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, and a heavy rain began to fall from the night sky.
But she had no umbrella and didn't want to shelter from the rain, still walking with difficulty. Suddenly, a white Porsche stopped in front of her.
Zhao Jianhua got out of the car and directly embraced her, soaked in rain, saying, "Come home with me, be my woman."
She was thus taken into Zhao Jianhua's car, and that night, they did things they shouldn't have.
When she sobered up, she considered leaving Zhao Jianhua. She didn't have much affection for this extremely ordinary, slightly balding middle-aged man.
However, she found Zhao Jianhua to be generous and also the head of a corporation.
She had already squandered most of the money Shu Zhongze had left her. Zhao Jianhua's appearance was just what she needed to continue her extravagant lifestyle.
So, she stayed by his side. As for how much of a womanizer he was, and that he had many other women around him, she only found out later.
Having seen through men completely, she no longer cared about these things. At least Zhao Jianhua gave her a considerable monthly allowance, enough to support herself and her family, so she didn't have to work.
And compared to his other women, he seemed to treat her a little differently, so she didn't ask for anything more.
But now, it seemed she was merely a plaything in his eyes, a plaything that could be given away at any time.
She controlled her anger and hatred, smiling and saying, "Okay, you're absolutely right."
"You agree?" Zhao Jianhua, seeing her agree without crying or making a fuss, was actually less pleased.
He hadn't expected the woman he kept to change her mind so quickly. Indeed, one shouldn't get too serious; these women were merely seasonings.
Zhan Jiayi smiled and said, "Yes, I'm willing. You make the arrangements."
He raised her face with one hand and stared at her, "That's good. But don't forget me after you go to Xie Zhendong. You know I'm fully aware of your family's situation."
"Don't worry, I'll help you get the benefits you want," Zhan Jiayi said calmly.
Zhao Jianhua sighed, "You are indeed the most sensible of all my women, and you know how to grasp a man's heart using the most sophisticated methods. If I really had to let go, I'd be truly reluctant."
Zhan Jiayi smiled and said, "There is gain in letting go. If you can use me to climb up to someone like Xie Zhendong, you would be willing to let go of ten of me."
"Smart, with a good head on your shoulders. It hasn't been in vain that I've kept you all this time," he said, lowering his head to kiss her, wanting to be intimate with her again.
At that moment, Zhan Jiayi found him utterly disgusting and regretted choosing such a vile man to cling to.